Cableway conveying system.



W. M. SHAW.

CABLEWAY CONVEYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-28. 1911.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. M. SHAW. CAVBLEWAY CONVEYING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED FEB.28, 1911.

Patented J an. 16, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W. M. SHAW.

CABL-EWAY CONVEYING SYSTEM.

APPLlCATiON FILED FEB. 28. 1911.

Patented J an. 16, 1917.

i no. u

7N0" WASNINGI'GN. a. a

WILLIAM M. SHAV, OF GREENVILLE, MAINE.

CABLEWAY CONVEYING SYSTEM.

Application filed February 28, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Grcenville, in the county of Piscataquis and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cableway Conveying Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in cableway conveying systems and more particularly contemplatesimprovements on cableway conveying systems of the general character or type shown in my prior U. S. Letters Patent Number 981,892, granted August 24th, 1909, in which type there is employed a main cable upon which travel a main carriage adaptedto be outhauled by an outhaul line, and over which passes and from which depends a combined hoisting and inhaul line, a slack pulling carriage being provided having gripping means for engagement with the hoisting line for operating the latter to provide proper length thereof depending from the main carriage for convenient attachment to a load.

he invention consists of the improvements to be fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification and wherein Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a conveying system or apparatus embodying my present improvements; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation and partly broken away, of my improvements showing the relative arrangement of a load supporting carriage, and a gripping mechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation partly broken away,

of the line-gripping mechanism formingpart of my invention, showing the same in another position of operation; Fig. 4 is a *iew in end elevation, with parts broken away, of a buffer and locking construction used in connection with the gripping mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation partly in section of the improved gripping mechanism; Fig. 6 is a section von the line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. is, rare.

Serial No. 611,320.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, A designates the head tree or tower and B the tail tree or tower which serve as the supports for the cables of the cableway. Stretched between said head trees or towers and suitably secured thereto in any suitable manner is the main or supportlng cable 1. Traveling on the main cable is a conveying carriage C, which may be of any approved construction and which specifically forms no part of my present invention, and I therefore do not deem it necessary to'enter into a specific description of the same except in sofar as it may hereafter appear necessary to explain the construction and operation of my present improvements. Depending from this carriage C is a block 2 over which extends a hoisting and inhaul rope 3 which also passes over a block 4 fixed to the head tree. From the block 4 the hoisting rope 3 passes down to a drum D f a hoisting engine E, said drum being operable to take up or pay out the said rope. At its opposite end, or that end which depends from the block 2, the rope 3 is provided with any suitabl means for receiving or being attached to a load, in the present instance said means being shown as consisting of tongs 5 for connection to a log, it being the purpose of this system to be used in connection with logging by power, although I do not desire to be limited to such use. In lifting the load the drum D is operated to take up the rope 3 until the tongs strike the block 2 when a continued pull on said rope will serve to pull the carriage along the main cable toward the head tower, the tongs acting as a stop to engage the conveying carria e. Connected to a drum D of the hoisting engine is an outhaul or receding line 7 by means or" which the carriage C is pulled out on the main cable toward the tail tree, said rope passing from the drum D over a block 8 on the head tower, and thence substantially parallel to the main cable to a block 9 on the tail tower over which it passes and is returned to the carriage C to which its outer end is attached. It will thus be seen that by taking up the outhaul rope by the drum D the carriage C will be moved out toward the tail tower. Preferably the outhaul rope between the blocks on the head and tail towers passes through and is guided and supported by guide pulleys, or wheels, on the conveying 11o 7 face of the main cable.

carriage, o that it is prevented from drop ping down between said blocks so as to in terfere with the proper operation of the cableway. 7 v

Arranged to travel on the main cable between the conveying carriage and the head tower is a slack-pulling carriage F having means for automatically gripping or engaging the hoisting rope, so that when said carriage is pulled outward toward the tail tower it will pull the hoisting rope ofl the winding drum D so that the length of rope depending from the block on the conveying carriage will be suiiicient to permit its convenient attachment to logs or other objects within the working radius of the cableway. This improved slack-pulling carriage consists of two side plates 10, 10 between which are j ournaled peripherally grooved traversing wheels 11 adapted to rest and travel on theupper surface of the main cable, and be neath which traversing wheels are arranged cylindrical rollers 12 to engage the under On one side plate adjacent the upper portion thereof and spaced from said side plate is a bracket-plate or strap 13 between which and said side plate are journaled upper and lower peripherally grooved guide wheels let, 15 between which passes the outhaul rope heretofore described, whereby said outhaul rope is supported intermediate the main carriage and the head tower.- Secured to the opposite side plate of said carriage is a similar bracket-plate or strap 16 between which and said side plate are journaled upper and lower peripherally grooved wheels 17, 18 between which passes what is known as a slack-puller, or slack-pulling rope 19, this rope passing over a block 20 on the head tower and being wound at one end on the drum D of the engine E, the opposite end portion of the rope passing over a rope guide or pulley 21 on the main carriage and then being reversed and carried longitudinally of itself and attached to the slack-pulling carriage as at 22. By this arrangement of the slaclcpulling rope it will be seen that when wound on the drum, and the main carriage is held fixed, the slack-pulling carriage will be pulled out toward the main carriage to accomplish a purpose to be presently described.

As heretofore stated, the slack-pulling carriage is provided with means for gripping the hoisting rope to pull the same off the drum D and I will now proceed to describe this means: Arranged between the side plates of the slack-pulling carriage beneath the cableway is arranged a substantially vertically disposed pivoted block the same being pivoted on a transverse pin 2a held in the side plates of the slackpulling carriage to which block is rigidly connected a hooked detent arm or .it is of tween the locking plates on the detent lever, the arrangement being such that when the latch member 25 having an upwardly curved rear end 26 and an intermediate locking toe or hook 27 adapted to cooperate with fixed locking means on the cableway to be presently described. At a point intermediate its pivot and said locking toe or hook the detent lever is provided with means for engaging and holding the hoisting line, said means comprising depending spaced plates 28 between which is adapted to pass the hoisting rope heretofore described, the latter, as it will be seen, from.

Figs. 2 and 8, passing through the slackpulling carriage between the side plates and being supported thereon by a supporting block 29 having a recessed orconcaved upper surface, as indicated in dotted lines, to receive said rope, said block being so arranged that when the pivoted detent arm is at its lowest point, the spaced plates 28 heretofore described will drop down past said supporting block Fig. 2,in which position the rope is straddled by said plates. Upon reference to Fig.2, it will be seen that the hoisting line is provided with an enlargement, or projecting part 30, so that at one point in its length greater diameter than the space beenlargement is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the spaced plates straddle the outhaul line in rear of the projection thereon and the forward edges 31 of said plates engage the opposite sides of said projection so that when the slack-pulling carriage is pulled out toward the main carriage, the hoisting line will be pulled off its drum. It will be apparent that with the plates 28 engaging the projection 30 as just described any outward movement of the slack-pulling carriage will serve to 'pull the hoisting rope off'its winding drum. The spaced plates are preferto theposition shown in V ably rounded on their'inner faces as at31 so that they will conform to the general contour of the rope and not unduly tear or wear the same. V V

The exact construction of the projection on the hoisting rope is immaterial but I prew fer to emplov a button of the character described in my application filed January 4:,

1911 and serially numbered 7600776. The vertical block carrying the locking arm or detent is apertured at its lower end as at 23, so that if desired to vary the leverage of the detent the pivot pin may be removed from the upper aperture in said block and the latter raised and the pivot pin placed through the aperture 23 By this arrangement interchangeable pivots are provided to vary the leverage of the detent arm.

The pivot block is preferably formed of two plates 32 between the upper ends of which the end of the detent arm is secured by bolts or rivets, and between the lower end of said plates is a spacer 33, a space or passageway being left between the spacer and the detent arm, through which space passes the hoisting or skidding line, said space being of less diameter than the projection or button on said rope, so that when the latter is outhauled by the main carriage said projection or button will engage the block but cannot pass it, whereby the slack-pulling carriage is forced to travel out with the main carriage.

The main cable is preferably connected to the head tower by a short cable section 3 1, the main cable being swiveled to said section as at 35, a buffer element or cylinder 36 being arranged on the main cable at the swivel connection. Surrounding the main cable in advance of said buffer is a tubular element 37 preferably consisting of a section of metal pipe of a diameter greater than the main cable so that it may .mo-ve freely along the said cable and have vertical movement on the same. Secured to the tubular element, and depending therefrom is a pair of vertical members 38, spaced from each other, and the lower end portions of which are connected to upwardly inclined bracing members 39, the upper ends of which are joined over the main cable so as to rest thereon. Vertical movement of these bracing members is limited by a transverse bolt 40 through the same beneath the short section of the main cable. The frame formed by the tubular element and said spaced members constitutes an intermediate lost motion buffer between the buffer 36, and the slack-pulling carriage, said lost motion buffer being movable lengthwise of the main cable but limited in its movement in one direction by the buffer 36, and in the other direction by a flexible connection 41, secured at one end to said lost motion buffer and having its opposite end slidably connected to the main cable in rear of the buffer element, as at 42, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This lost motion frame serves as a support for a locking mechanism to cooperate with the locking arm or detent 25 on the slack-pulling carriage for locking the latter at the head portion of the cableway so as to hold said carriage during the first portion of the period the conveying carriage is being outhauled. This locking means preferably comprises a latch member consisting of a latch bar 43 arranged between the vertical members and bracing members of the lost motion frame, said latch bar being pivoted upon a bolt or pin 14 eX- tending transversely through said vertical members and bridging the space between the same. This latch piece is provided at its outer end or that end toward the carriages with a vertical projection or striker 45 which is adapted to cooperate with the rear hook on the locking detent or arm so as to hold the slack-pulling carriage locked to the lost motion frame. At its rear portion said latch piece is pivoted to a vertically extending loop member 46 resting by gravity on the main cable and the function of which is to support the latch piece in looking position and to return the same to locking position after disengagement of the locking arm or detent therefrom, as hereinafter described. The said vertical loop member is adjustably connected to the latch piece as at 47, so that it may be moved closer to or farther from the pivot of said latch piece whereby the leverage on the latch piece may be varied.

Upon reference to Fig. 3 in which the slack-pulling carriage is shown in position with the locking arm or detent in engagement with the latch piece on the lost motion frame, it will be seen that said locking arm is held raised so that the depending engaging plates 28 thereon are held out of engagement with the stop button on the hoisting and inhaul rope, so that the latter may pass freely to and from its winding drum. Preferably, the inhaul rope 3 passes through the lost motion frame between the vertical and bracing members tiereof over a sheave 48 turning on an axle arranged between the spaced side plates 49 secured at the lower end of said frame.

The construction of the improved cableway being as above described, I will now set forth the operation thereof, it being premised that the slack-pulling carriage F and the conveying carriage C are adjacent the head tower and are ready to be outhauled so as to be carried to the point from which the load is to be taken. In this position of the parts it will be understood that the outhauling or receding line 7, the slack pulling-line 19, and the combined hoisting and inhaul line 3, are wound on their respective drums, the flexible button 30 on the inhaul line being either on the drum of the inhaul line, or somewhere between said drum and the slackpulling carriage. In order to move the carriages out to the point from which the load is to be conveyed, the operator permits the inhaul line 3 to run free on its drum and likewise the slack-pulling line 19, and the drum upon which the outhaul or receding line 7 is wound is operated to take up the outhaul line which will serve to pull the main or conveying carriage C out toward the tail tree, it being understood that during the first part of this movement the slack-pulling carriage F remains locked at the head portion of the main cable. The conveying carriage in moving out toward the tail tower, serves to pull the inhaul line and the slack-pulling line from their drums, said drums preferably being held under friction so as to prevent slack occurring in these lines, and

7 then follows the conveying carriage along the main cable toward the tail tree. During this movement of the slack-pulling carriage the locking lever, or arm 25 there-on drops down by gravity so 'that'the locking plates 28 thereon straddle the inhaul or hoisting line, and the latch piece 43 on the lost motion frame is returned to its normal or locking position by the weight of the vertical loop member 46 connected to the rear portion thereof heretofore described. The main carriage having reached the point from which the load is to be taken, the drum for the outhaul or receding line is held, and the slack-pulling line 19 is wound on its drum so as to pull the slack-pulling carriage out toward the conveying carriage which will serve to pull out sufiicient of the hoisting rope 3 to give the required length depending from the main carriage to enable the convenient manipulation of the same within the radius of operation of the cableway. It will be understood that during this operation the drum upon which the hoisting line is wound is maintained under friction so as to prevent slack in the hoisting line, between the slack-pulling carriage and the head tower. When the slack-pulling line is first operated to pull the slackpulling carriage toward the conveying carriage, the slack-pulling carriage moves independently along the hoisting line until the projection or button 30 on the hoisting line is located over the supporting block 29 heretofore described on the slack-pulling carriage, and said button catches beneath and against the engaging plates 28 on the lever arm 25 or detent so that the proper engagement is provided between the slackpulling carriage and the hoisting line to pull the latter off its drum. It will be seen that during the operation of the cableway up to this point the button on the hoisting or inhaul line first engages the slack-pulling carriage to outhaul the latter toward the main carriage, and is then in turn engaged by the locking arm or detent to be pulled out by the slaclcpulling carriage toward the conveying carriage. It will be understood that the slack-pulling carriage is pulled out by the slack-pulling rope or line until the desired length of line depends from the conveying carriage. This amount will depend upon the distance the button is located on the inhaul line from the free end of the latter and the distance the slack-pulling carriage is pulled toward the conveying carriage; The proper length of hoisting line having been obtained for attachment to the load, the main carriage is still held by the outhaul line and the slack-pulling line is no longer operated to pull out the slack-pulling carriage, and the hoisting and inhaul rope is taken up by its drum to lift the load. In this operation the button on the outhaul line will still be in' engagement with the locking detent on the slack-pulling carriage and the slack-pulling carriage will be first moved toward the head tree, the slack-pulling line being paid out to permit this movement. ment may continue until the tongs strike the block depending from the conveying carriage and the outhaul line for the said main carriage is then paid out so that the slack-pulling carriage and the conveying carriage move in toward the head tree together. This movement of the two carriages together continues until the slackpulling carriage reaches the lost motion frame when the curved under face of the rear end of the locking arm or detent strikes the locking end of the latch piece, which will serve to raise said locking arm or detent, out of engagement with the inhaul line, the latter with the button thereon passing through the slack-pulling carriage and the lost motion frame to its winding drum, so that the conveying carria e continues its movement toward the heac tower to the point desired when the drum for the outhaul line is held against further paying-out of the out-haul line and the drum for the inhaul line is stopped and held. 7

Then the button on the inhaul line is released from the locking arm or detent, as above described, said lockingarm or detent passes over and above the locking end of the latch piece on the lost motion frame and drops down behind the projection on said latch piece so that the slack-pulling frame or carriage is locked to said lost motion frame in the position to assume previous to being out-hauled.

It will be understood that the flexible connection between the lost motion frame and the cableway is such that when the first pull outward on'the slack-pulling carriage is exerted, said frame is pulled out along the cableway until the end of said flexible connection mounted on the main cable catches against the rear of the swivel connection so This move-- that upon the return of the slack-pulling tween the movable and fixed buffer to reduce the force of the blow exerted by the slack-pulling carriage.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a conveying system, a main cable, a slack-pulling carriage and a conveying carriage arranged to travel on the main cable, a hoisting and inhaul rope passing over both of said carriages, means for actuating said rope, a stop button on said rope, a part on the slack-pulling carriage which is impassable to said stop button, an outhaul rope connected to the conveying carriage whereby said stop button may be pulled into engagement with said part to cause the slack-pulling carriage to travel with the conveying carriage, a slack-pulling rope extending over the conveying carriage and connected to the slaclnpulling carriage, and a second rope-engaging device on the slackpulling carriage permitting free passage of the inhaul and hoisting rope when the carriages are outhauled, but constructed to engage said stop button to lock said rope to the slack-pulling carriage when the carriages are inhauled.

2. In a conveying system, in'combination, a main cable, a conveying carriage, and a slack-pulling carriage on the main cable, a combined hoisting and inhaul rope passing over said carriages and movable lengthwise relative to the same, an outhaul rope connected to the conveying carriage, a plurality of rope engaging devices on the slack-pulling carriage to couple the combined hoisting and inhaul rope thereto to cause the slack-pulling carriage to be pulled by the said combined inhaul and outhaul rope in both directions, and means for automatically releasing one of said devices when the combined hoisting and inhaul rope and the slack-pulling carriage are moved in one direction.

3. In a conveying system, in combination, a main cable, a conveying carriage, and a slack-pulling carriage on the main cable, a combined hoisting and inhaul rope passing over said carriages and movable lengthwise relative to same, an outhaul rope connected to the conveying carriage, a plurality of rope engaging devices on the slack-pulling carriage to couple the combined hoisting and inhaul rope thereto to cause the slackpulling carriage to be pulled by the combined inhaul and outhaul rope in both directions, and means fixed to the main cable for automatically releasing one of said devices when the combined hoisting and inhaul rope and the carriages are moved in one direction.

4:. In a conveying system, a main cable, a slack-pulling carriage, and a conveying carriage movable on the same, an outhaul rope for the load carriage, a combined hoisting and inhaul rope passing over said carriages and having a stop to cooperate with the conveying carriage when the latter is traversed on the main cable, and carrying a button, a ropeengaging device on the slackpulling carriage to engage the button to couple the rope thereto when the carriages are outhauled, said device consisting of means impassable by the button, a second rope-engaging device on the slack-pulling carriage constructed to automatically disengage itself from the combined hoisting and inhaul rope'when the latter is moved in a direction to engage the first mentioned rope-engaging device, and to automatically engage itself with the combined hoisting and inhaul rope when the latter is moved in the opposite direction, means for automatically releasing said second device at a predetermined point in the travel of the slaclepulling carriage, said releasing means including a lock to hold the slack-pulling carriage against movement at said predetermined point, said lock cooperating with said second rope-engaging device.

5. In a conveying system, a main cableway, a slack-pulling carriage, and a conveying carriage movable thereon, a hoisting rope having a stop and passing over both said carriages, a part on the slack-pulling carriage to permit free movement of the rope in one direction but cooperating with the stop to couple the slack-pulling carriage to said rope when the said rope is moved in the opposite direction, and a releasable part adapted to cooperate with the stop to couple the said rope and slack-pulling car riage when the said rope is moved in said first-mentioned direction.

6. In a conveying system, a main cable, a slack-pulling carriage, and a conveying carriage movable thereon, a hoisting rope having a stop and passing over both said carriages, a part on the slack-pulling carriage to permit free movement of the rope in one direction but cooperating with the stop to couple the slack-pulling carriage to said rope when the said rope is moved in the opposite direction, a releasable part adapted to cooperate with the stop to couple the said rope and carriage when the said rope is moved in said first-mentioned direction, and means for automatically releasing the said stop from the releasable part.

7. In a conveying system, a main cable, a slack-pulling carriage, and a conveying carriage movable thereon, a hoisting rope having a stop and passing over both said carriages, a part on the slack-pulling carriage to permit free movement of the rope in one direction but cooperating with the stop to couple the slack-pulling carriage to said rope when the said rope is moved in the oppositedirection, a releasable part adapted to cooperate with the stop to couple the said rope and carriage when the rope is moved in said first-mentioned direction, and means for automatically releasing the stop from the releasable part at a determined point in the main cable.

8. In a conveying system, main cable, a conveying carriage movable thereon, an outhaul rope for the conveying carriage, 'a second carriage on the main cable, a combined inhaul and hoisting rope extending over said carriages and carrying a stop device to be engaged by the conveying carriage to cause the conveying carriage to outhaul the combinedinhaul and hoisting rope, a stop button on the combined inhaul and hoisting rope, means on said second carriage for engaging said step button, whereby the second carriage is outhauled by the conveying carriage, supplemental means on the second carriage for engagin the combined inhaul and hoisting rope, and means for moving the second carriage relative to theconveying carriage to control the slack in the combined inhaul and hoisting rope.

9. In a conveying system, a main'cable, a conveying carriage and a slack-pulling'carriage movablethereon, an outhaul rope for the conveying carriage, a separate outhaul rope for the slack pulling carriage, a hoisting rope extending over the said carriages and having a button, means on the slack-pulling carriage for engaging the button whereby the slack-pulling carriage is outhauled by pull of the conveying carriage on the hoisting rope, and a separate means on the slackpulling carriage for engaging said button to outhaul the hoisting rope. v 10. In a conveying apparatus, a main cable, a conveying carriage and a slack-pulling carriage movable thereon, an outhaul rope for the conveying carriage, a separate outhaul rope for the slack-pulling carriage, a hoisting rope extending over the said carriages and having a button, means on the slack-pulling carriage for engaging the button whereby the slack-pulling carriage isouthauled by pull of the conveying carriage on said hoisting rope, and a separate means on the slack-pulling carriage for engaging said button to outhaul the hoisting rope.

11. In a conveying system, a main cable, a conveying carriage and a slack-pulling carriage movable thereon, an outhaul rope for the conveying carriage, a combined hoisting and inhaul rope extending over the carriages and having a button, a rope guide on the slack-pulling carriage having an opening through which the combined inhaul and hoisting rope may pass but through which said button'is impassable, means for operating the conveying carriagefto pull the inhaul and hoisting rope through said guide and the said button into engagement with said guide, a rope extending over a guide on the conveying carriage and connected at one end to the slack-pulling carriage whereby the slack-pulling carriage may be pulled toward the conveying carriage, and a means on the slack-pulling carriage separate from said first named guide to lock the combined hoisting and inhaul rope to the slack-pulling carriage when the latter is pulled toward the conveying carriage.

12. In a conveying system, a main cable, a carriage on the main cable, a locking detent on the carriage and having its locking part located below the main cable, a frame suspended from the main cable, a pivoted latch on the frame below the main cable and adapted to cooperate with the said locking part of the detent to lock the carriage to the frame, and a latch supporting and operating means consisting of a loop member connected to the pivoted latch and suspended from and bridged over the main cable.

- 13. In a conveying system, a main'cable, a conveying carriage, and a slack-pulling carriage on the main cable, a line passing over both said carriages, andcarrying a stop button, means for outhauling the conveying carriage to pull said line to throw the stop button into engagement with a part on the slack-pulling carriage to lock said'line to the slack-pulling carriage to cause the latter to travel along the cableway in one"direction, a releasable part on the slack-pulling carriage adapted toengage said button to couple said line to the slack-pulling carriage when said'line is moved in the opposite direction,'and a line passing over the conveying carriage and connected to the slack-pulling carriage to outhaul the slack-pulling carriage independently of the conveying carriage. Y

14:. Ina conveying system, a main cable," a conveyer carriage and a slack-pulling car-i riage, a slack-pulling rope connected to the slack-pulling carriage and passing over the conveyer carriage and adapted topull the slack-pulling carriage toward the conveyer carriage, an inhaul rope passing over both carriages, a traversing rope for the conveyer V 15. In a conveying'system, a cable, alatch thereon,a conveying carriage and ajslack- 7 pulling carriage onthe cable, a-hoisting rope passing over the slack-pullingcarriage and the conveying carriage, and-"having a;

stop button fixed thereto, means for outhaulrope passing'ove r the conveying carriage and ing the conveying carriage, a-slack-pulling I connected to the slack pulling carriage to iaow pull the latter toward the conveying carriage, a part on the slack-pulling carriage impassable to said button when the hoisting rope is outhauled by the conveying carriage and a hook on the slack-pulling carriage comprising members spaced apart a distance loss than the diameter of said button and adapted to engage the latter to outhaul said combined hoisting and inhaul line when the slack-pulling carriage is pulled toward the conveying carriage by the slack-pulling rope, and means on said latch hook to engage with the latch on the cable.

16. In a conveying system, a cable, a conveying carriage and a slack-pulling carriage thereon, a combined hoisting and inhaul rope passing over said carriages, an outhaul rope for the conveying carriage, a slack-pulling rope for the slack-pulling carriage, and a latch on the slack-pulling carriage adapted to engage a button fixed to said combined inhaul and hoisting line whereby the latter is outhauled by the slack-pulling carriage, said latch consisting of a pivoted member having plates spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said button and between which the main body of the rope is to engage a button fixed to said combined inhaul and hoisting line whereby the latter is o-uthauled by the slack-pulling carriage,

said latch consisting of a pivoted member having plates spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said button and between which the main body of the rope is adapted to freely pass, and means for supporting said rope in position to be straddled by said plates.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SHAVVQ Witnesses:

C. W. BUCHANAN, L. C. BROGKWAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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